Local resident receives Habitat home

Peter Muhl, building supervisor for Garland Area Habitatfor Humanity, presented Maria Gonzales with the keys to her new home on Freemont Street on May 24. This was the 80th home completed by Garland Area Habitat.

Gonzales’s home is one of the houses built each year by the building trade’s classes on location at Naaman Forest High School. The electrical work is completed by students in the electrician’s classes at North Garland High School.

The house is then moved onto Habitat property where Habitat volunteers and volunteer groups work four hours each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to complete the homes in about four months.

Building and completing these homes would not be possible without assistance from the numerous volunteers who give their time and talents.

Bob Whitlock, past chairman of the board, introduced the new homeowner, Gonzales and her children, Wilbur, Suzanna, and Valeria, to the guests attending the event and explained Habitat’s mission within the community.

He also introduced Marty Rogers, executive director of Garland Habitat, Councilwoman Anita Goebel, Lowell Templin, instructor of the building trades program at Naaman Forest high School, James McKee, instructor of the electrical classes at North Garland High School, and several students from those classes who helped build the home.

Sally Muhl, volunteer coordinator for Habitat, presented the family with gifts for their new home. Gonzales served lunch.

Gonzales met Habitat’s eligibility guidelines and acquired a variety of construction skills as she completed 33 hours above the 250 equity hours required for home ownership.

She is now a homeowner with all of the responsibilities of home ownership: mortgage, insurance, upkeep and repairs. Habitat is carrying an interest free loan for her.

The family said they are happy and excited about moving into their own home and enjoying the opportunities that home ownership will bring into their lives.

Sue Holmes Watkins is a community columnist and can be reached at sueholmeswatkins@gmail.com.

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